Lady Eagles Pull Away From Lady Bison in Late Innings

Brooke Cline continued her hot hitting for the Lady Bison (Photo by Jay Siegel)

HYDE — After Clearfield rallied for four runs to create a tie game, Bald Eagle Area responded with three runs in the last two innings for an 8-5 Mountain League win in high school girls softball action at the Bison Sports Complex Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Eagles, who scored in every inning except the second, built a 3-1 lead when Mackenzie McCloskey singled and doubled to chase home runs in the first and third frames and courtesy runner Skylar Woodward turned Tobi Yarrison’s single into a run by circling the sacks with three stolen bases in the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, they made it 5-1 on a walk, Brooke Woodward’s RBI double to the base of the fence in left center and, after Abby Fedder replaced starter Erica Hanes in the circle, Kaleigh Kinley’s sacrifice fly.

The winless Lady Bison, who had totaled only four runs in their first four games, then erupted with a four-spot to take Hanes off the hook.

Hanes greeted reliever Zoey Surovec with a two-run single. One out later, Brooke Cline drove in Kirstin Norman with a sacrifice fly to right and Aspen Bishop capped her perfect day at the plate with a booming RBI double to leftt.

“That was nice to see,” Clearfield coach Bob Lewis said. “Bishop has been struggling, and we’re counting on her for big things. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of something for her and she can get on a roll.

“I was very pleased that the girls did battle back. They didn’t hang their heads. They could have easily given up and packed it in, but they showed a lot of heart. I think they proved to a lot of people what we’re capable of doing and what we’re striving for.

“Bald Eagle Area is a good team, and I don’t think our kids were intimidated by them in that respect.”

The Lady Eagles converted a Fedder walk into the winning run in the sixth. Woodward, running for Yarrison again, raced to third on Olivia Andrews’ double to deep right center and sprinted for the plate when the Bison catcher threw to first base on Allison Hess’ swinging bunt single.

Erica Hanes started in the circle for the Lady Bison (Photo by Jay Siegel)

BEA (4-2, 2-2 ML) added two insurance runs in the seventh as Madison Ripka sandwiched a double to the left center fence between two Bison misplays.

Fedder suffered the loss despite giving up just three hits and one earned run in three innings. Hanes had allowed seven hits and five earned runs.

“Keeping things in perspective, both girls are just settling in to those varsity roles,” Lewis said. “It’s a learning curve for both of them, and I see improvement each time they step into the circle.”

Surovec picked up the win with three innings of three-hit, one-run work.

Six Lady Bison joined Bishop in the hit column for the Lady Bison.

“It was nice to see the bats awaken,” Lewis said. “Our hits have been coming here and there, and I was pleased to see them string some together. That’s what we’re capable of doing, but it all starts with the kids’ confidence at the plate.”

Clearfield (0-5, 0-4 ML) makes the long trip to Spring Mills to play Penns Valley Thursday.